Damian Salas

Damian Salas
Damian Salas at 2018 WPT Argentina
Nickname(s)Pampa
ResidenceChascomús, Argentina
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)4
Money finish(es)31
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		Winner, 2020
Information last updated on 1 January 2021.

Damian Salas (born 1975) is an Argentine professional poker player from Chascomús. He won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2020, becoming the first person from Argentina to win the world championship of poker and the second person from South America to win the championship, after 2001 champion Carlos Mortensen. He made the Main Event final table in 2017, where he finished in 7th place earning $1,425,000.[1]

Salas is a lawyer in Argentina, and got his degree from the National University of La Plata.[2] He first cashed in a WSOP event in 2009. In 2016, he made the final table of a $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Shootout event, finishing in fifth place for $64,000.[3]

Salas finished in the money of the Main Event in both 2013 (606th) and 2016 (418th). In 2017, he made the final table in sixth chip position before finishing in seventh place, being eliminated with A♣ 10♥ against the pocket fours of Dan Ott which made a straight on the river. Salas earned $1,425,000.[4] He also cashed in the 2018 Main Event in 569th place.[5]

In 2020, Salas again made the Main Event final table in the GGPoker portion of the tournament. At the live final table in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, he defeated Brazil's Brunno Botteon heads-up holding K♦ 8♥ which made two pair on the river.[6] For the win, he earned $1,550,969.[7]

On January 3, Salas played Joseph Hebert, champion of the American portion of the Main Event, in the heads-up championship match at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. On the 173rd hand of play, Salas made a full house with K♦ J♠ to beat the A♦ Q♠ of Hebert to win the Main Event and earn an additional $1 million.[8]

Playing under the name "pampa27," Salas has more than $9 million in online winnings. In November 2020, he won a $1,050 No Limit Hold'em event during the European Poker Tour Online.[9] He won a $10,300 No Limit Hold'em SCOOP event on PokerStars in April 2021, earning $263,000.[10]

As of 2021, Salas' live tournament winnings are $5,239,000.[11][12] His 31 WSOP cashes account for $4,261,000 of those winnings.[13]

  1. ^ "Damian Salas Eliminated in 7th Place ($1,425,000)". www.pokernews.com. July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Katz, Dan (December 16, 2020). "Damian Salas Wins 2020 WSOP Main Event International Bracket Final Table". PokerNewsDaily. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Dalla, Nolan (July 1, 2016). "SAFIYA UMEROVA WINS $1,500 BUY-IN NO-LIMIT HOLD'EM SHOOTOUT EVENT" (PDF). WSOP.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  4. ^ Rinkema, Remko (July 22, 2017). "ARGENTINA'S MAIN EVENT ENDS: DAMIAN SALAS ELIMINATED IN 7TH PLACE". Poker Central. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  5. ^ "49th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2018, No Limit Hold'em - Main Event Championship (Event #65): Hendon Mob Poker Database". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  6. ^ Bradley, Lance (December 15, 2020). "Damian Salas Conquers 2020 WSOP Main Event International Leg". PocketFives.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  7. ^ Zetzsche, Christian (December 15, 2020). "Damian Salas Wins International Leg of 2020 WSOP Main Event". PokerNews.com. Retrieved January 1, 2021.
  8. ^ Holloway, Chad (December 19, 2021). "Hebert Takes 2nd Place to Salas in 2020 WSOP Main Event Championship!". 888 Poker Online. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "Damian "pampa27" Salas Scoops $117,475 in the PokerStars EPT Online 20: $1,050 NLHE [Last Chance]". PokerStars Blog. November 17, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Epskamp, Yori (April 22, 2021). "SCOOP 2021 Day 16: WSOP Main Event Champion Damian Salas Wins SCOOP Title". PokerNews.com. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  11. ^ "Damian Salas' Life: Net Worth, Biggest Profits, Losses and Private Life". Somuchpoker.com. January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Damian Salas' profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved November 25, 2023.
  13. ^ "Damian Salas". WSOP.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.